The Goldeyes signed left-handed hitting first baseman Kyle Martin prior to their contest against the Sioux City Explorers.

Martin played in a combined 110 games at two levels of the Philadelphia Phillies organization last year. The 26-year-old slugger batted .198 with 35 extra-base hits, including 10 home runs.

In 2017, Martin tied for seventh in the double-A Eastern League with 22 homers while playing for the Reading Fightin’ Phils.

“He hits home runs, and he drives runs in,” Goldeyes manager Rick Forney said. “Driving in runs in the middle of our lineup has been a bit of a troublesome area for us. It’s an opportunity to add another big, lef-handed bat for the middle of the lineup to try and give us a little more balance.

“He’s a really good defender, and a heck of a nice guy. I really enjoyed my conversations with him. I know Fargo, Gary, and Kansas City were going pretty hard (after Martin) at the same time I was. I’m glad he chose us.”

Martin enjoyed a stellar college career at the University of South Carolina. During his freshman season in 2012, Martin batted .295 in 40 games, and helped the Gamecocks reach the College World Series finals. The program was making a bid for three consecutive national championships, before ultimately losing to the University of Arizona.

As a sophomore in 2013, Martin was voted Most Outstanding Player at the Columbia, S.C., regional, and capped his collegiate run with a First-Team All-American nod as a senior in 2015.

Martin has averaged 32 doubles, 22 home runs, and 90 RBIs per 162 games played as a pro, and owns a career .175 isolated power rating (slugging percentage minus batting average).

The Goldeyes haven’t necessarily lacked power early on this season—the club ranked sixth out of 12 teams in home runs entering play Wednesday — but the Fish have been somewhat banged up since returning from their season-opening road trip.

Dominic Ficociello returned to the lineup Monday after missing just over a week due to an upper-body injury. Ficociello’s return has allowed Forney to rest regular shortstop Adrian Marin, who has also battled an upper-body injury of late. Usual third baseman Wes Darvill has filled in at shortstop each of the last two games.

The Goldeyes did not have to make a corresponding roster move. They had been playing with 22 active players since Kevin Lachance was purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks last Saturday.

NINTH-INNING COMEBACK

The Goldeyes pulled off a stunning win for a second time in three nights, beating the Sioux City Explorers 3-2 at Shaw Park on Wednesday.

With two outs and no one on base in the bottom of the ninth, the Goldeyes rallied for three runs.

Winnipeg loaded the bases on a Josh Romanski single, a Willy Garcia double, and a Martin walk.

Reggie Abercrombie walked on a full count to force home a run, setting up a two-run single from Ficociello that won the game.

The Goldeyes were down to their final strike on 10 different occasions in the ninth.

Sioux City took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on RBI singles from Jose Sermo and Drew Stankiewicz.

That appeared to be enough as Explorers starter Eric Karch tossed eight shutout innings and allowed just one Goldeye to reach second base.

Goldeyes starter Parker French allowed two earned runs in seven and two-thirds. Both starters took no-decisions.

THE SKINNY: After there were two outs and no one on base in the bottom of the ninth, the Goldeyes rallied for three runs to win 3-2 over the Sioux City Explorers. PLAYER OF THE GAME: Dominic Ficociello delivered the game-winning, two-run single in the ninth. Ficociello had missed just over a week due to an upper-body injury, but has hit safely in all three games since his return to the lineup. PLAY OF THE GAME: Josh Romanski, Willy Garcia, Kyle Martin, Reggie Abercrombie, and Ficociello all played a role in the ninth-inning comeback, and collectively were down to their final strike on 10 different pitches. NEXT UP: The Goldeyes send Kevin McGovern to the mound in the series finale on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Sioux City goes with former Major League right-hander Taylor Jordan. The game can be heard live on 93.7 FM.

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